L.A. mom, 4-year-old son identified in fatal Sacramento freeway crash

A 40-year-old Los Angeles mother and her 4-year-old son were identified Friday as the victims killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 in Sacramento.

Carrie Tricia Sears was driving a 2005 Nissan Pathfinder west on the freeway with her son, Skylar Eubanks, in a child restraint seat in the back Thursday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. Sears' 9-year-old daughter also was in the backseat next to Skylar, officials said.

CHP Officer Lizz Dutton said the family was heading back home to West Hills in the San Fernando Valley after visiting family in the Rocklin-Auburn area.

Multiple witnesses, including an off-duty officer, alerted the CHP around 2 p.m. that the Pathfinder was speeding and weaving in and out of the three westbound lanes. Finally, the Pathfinder veered right across all lanes and tumbled down an embankment, slamming into several trees.

It was traveling from 80 mph to 100 mph, Dutton said.

"The impact was mainly on the left side of the vehicle," Dutton said.

Sears died at the scene and Skylar died later. The daughter, whose name was not released, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was recovering at UC Davis Medical Center, according to a CHP news release.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The CHP was trying to determine if alcohol or drugs were involved.